Sectional metal box



y 1951 w. F. BRUNIA 2,552,400

SECTIONAL usm. BOX

Filed Aug. 2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JANE/woe William E Brum'd 5 xfi m my y 1951 I BRUNIA 2,552,400

SECTIONAL METAL BOX Filed Aug. 2, 1948 2 Sheets-Shed 2 Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SECTIONAL METAL BOX William F. Brunia, Des Moines, Iowa Application August 2, 1948, Serial No. 41,987

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to sectional metal boxes and in particular to sectional out let boxes for electric conduits.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved sectional metal box.

A further object. of this invention is to provide an electric conduit sectional outlet box capable of being assembled. or ganged in multiple units to accommodate a desired conduit installation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric conduit sectional outlet box capable of being readily assembled as a unit, or ganged as a multiple unit, without the use. of separate or independent fastening and locking means.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an electric conduit sectional outlet box adapted for a unit or a ganged assembly such that the interior and exterior surfaces of the box are substantially free of any projecting portions whereby to facilitate the assembly of the box within a wall opening and to provide for a maximum working and storage space within the box.

A feature of this invention is found in the provision of an electric conduit sectional metal box in which a U-shape body member has end or leg sections integrally formed with hooks arranged at opposite sides thereof and with the hooks on one end section being extended inwardly toward the hooks on the other end section. Independent side sections are integrally formed at their opposite ends with laterally projected hooks constructed for interlocking engagement with the hooks on the end sections on relative movement between a side section and an end section. Bendable ears integral with the side and end sections are adapted for movement laterally of their corresponding sections into and out of engagement with certain of the hooks so that in one moved position of the ears such hooks are locked against movement out of interlocked engagement to maintain the side sections in assembly on the U-shape body member, and on movement of the ears to a second position such hooks are releasable from interlocked engagement to provide for the assembly and removal of the side sections relative to the U-shape body member.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the sectional box of this invention showing a single unit thereof, with certain parts being broken away to more clearly show its construction; K

Fig. 2 is a plan. view of the box shown in Fig. 1, when said box. is assembled;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view taken. on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the upper left corner of the box shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view illustrated similarly to Fig. 4, showing a released position of a side section of the box;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view taken on the line. 6-6. in Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view showing a ganged assembly of, the sectional. box of this invention; and

Fig. 8 is a modified form of a side section adapted for use with the sectional box shown in. Fig. 1.

With reference to the drawings, the sectional metal box of this invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 as including a U-shape body member l0 having end sections or legs II and I2 and a back section or base IS.

The end section II is integrally formed with pairs of transversely spaced, oppositely arranged pairs of hooks l4. and i6 and I l and 18, with the hooks l4 andv [6 being spaced upwardly from the hooks l1 and [8, respectively. As clearly appears in Fig- 1, the hooks l4 and H, which are at the side l9 of the end section II, have their hook portions 20 and 2|, respectively, projected upwardly, while the hooks l6 and I8v on the side 22 of the end section II, have their hook portions-.23 and 24, respectively, projected downwardly, with all of the hooks l4, l6, l1 and I8 being extended inwardly from the end section I l at substantially right angles thereto.

In a like manner, the end section I2 is integrally formed with pairs of hooks 26 and 21, and 2.8 and 29, with. the hooks 28 and 29 being disposed below the hooks 26 and 21, respectively. Also it will be noted that the pair of hooks 2.6 and 21 and the pair of hooks 28 and 29 are arranged oppositely from the pair of hooks l4 and I6 and the pair of hooks l1 and I8, respectively, in a direction longitudinally of the body member ID.

The hooks 26 and 28 at the side 3| of the end section l2, which side 3| corresponds to the side I!) on the end section I l, have their hook portions 32 and 33, respectively, projected downwardly so as to be extended reversely relative to the hook portions 20 and 2| for the hooks l4 and I1, respectively. Likewise the hooks 21 and 29 at the side 34 of the end section I2, which corresponds to the side 22 of the end section II, have their hook portions 36 and 31, respectively. projected upwardly so as to be extended reversely relative to the hook portions 23 and 24 for the hooks I6 and I8, respectively.

Extended inwardly from the free or top edge of each end section II and I2 are a pair of oppositely arranged ears 38 formed with threaded openings 39 and constituting wall fastening members for the sectional box. Knock out openings M are formed in the end sections II and I2 adjacent to the base section I3 for receiving electric conduits (not shown).

The U-body member III is closed to form a box, by a pair of detachable metal side sections 42 and 43. The side section 42 is formed at its end 44 with a pair of laterally projected hooks 46 and 41 arranged in a spaced relation corresponding to the spacing between the hooks 26 and 28. The hook portions 48 and 49, for the hooks 46 and 41, respectively, are projected in a reverse direction relative to the hook portions 32 and 33 for the hooks 26 and 28, and

are arranged so as to be substantially in a plane common to the plane of the, side section 42.

The end III of the side section 42 is integrally formed with a pair of inwardly extended hooks 52 and 53 arranged in a spaced relation corresponding to the spacing of the hooks I4 and I1 on the end section H and have their hook portions 54 and 58, respectively, projected in reverse directions relative to the hook portions 28 and 2| for the hooks l4 and I1, respectively.

In a similar manner, the side section 43 is formed at its end 51 with a pair of hooks 58 and 59 having hook portions BI and 62, respectively, projected in reverse directions relative to the hook portions 36 and 31 for the hooks 21 and 28 on the end section I2. A pair of hooks 63 and 64, at the end 66 of the side section 43, have their hook portions 61 and 68, respectively, projected in reverse directions relative to the hook portions 23 and 24 for the hooks I6 and I8 on the end section II.

In the assembly of the side section 42 with the body member III, the hooks 46 and 41 are positioned within cutaway portions 69 and II formed in the side 3| of the end section I2 at positions below the hooks 26 and 28, respectively, (Fig. When thus positioned, on relative up and down movement between the side section 42 and end section I2, the hooks 46 and 41 are interlocked with the hooks 26 and 28, respectively, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. With these hooks thus interlocked, the side section 42 is manipulated to position the hooks 52 and 53 thereof within cutaway portions 12 and 13 (Fig. 1) formed in the side I9 of the end section II at positions above the hooks I4 and I1, respectively, to provide for an interlocked engagement of the hooks 52 and 53 with the hooks I4 and I1, respectively.

In a similar manner, to assemble the side section 43 with the body member ID, the hooks 58 and 59 are disposed in cutaway portions 14 and 16 formed in the side 34 of the end section l2 above the hooks 21 and 29 respectively, to provide for their interlocked engagement with the hooks 21 and 29. The hooks 83 and 64 are interlocked with the hooks I6 and I8, respectively, by initially being positioned within cutaway portions 11 and 18 formed in the side 22 of the end section I I at positions below the hOQkS I6 and I8, respectively.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the section 43 is slightly curved at its end 51, while the section 42 is slightly curved at its end 5|. This curved construction of the ends 5| and 51 of the side sections 42 and 43, respectively, facilitates the positioning of the various pairs of hooks in interlocked engagement and provides for a substantially flush engagement of the sides of the end sections II and I2 with the inner sides or surfaces of the side sections 42 and 43.

The side sections 42 and 43 are locked in their assembly positions with the body member III by means of stop or look members 88, 8I, 82 and 83, integrally formed with the end section I2, side section 42, end section II and side section 43, respectively. Since each lock member 80, BI, 82 and 83 is of a similar construction and similar in operation, only the lock member 88 on the end section I2 will be described in detail.

The lock member 80 (Figs. 1 and 5) is formed at the side 3i of the end section I2 by cutting longitudinally spaced transversely extended slots 88 and 81, with the slot 81 being of a size to accommodate the working end of a screw driver or the like. Further, the slots 86 and 81 are of a length to provide for the locking member 88 being bendable or movable laterally of the end section I2. As best appears in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the lock member 80 is arranged below the hook 28 at a position such that when the hook 41 is in interlocked engagement with the hook 28, the free end 88 of the lock member 80 is movable below the hook 41. Stated otherwise, when the lock member 88 is within the plane of the end section I2, its free end 88 projects within the cutaway portion II so as to prevent movement of the hook 41 away from and out of interlocked engagement with the hook 28. By inserting the working end of a screw driver within the slot 81, the lock member 80 is movable outwardly from the end section I2 to its position illustrated in Fig. 6, so that its free end 88 is outside of the confines of the cutaway portion 1I whereby the hook 41 is movable downwardly and out of engagement with the hook 28.

The lock members BI and 83, although operable in a manner similar to the lock members 80 and 82, are arranged in the plane of the side sections 42 and 43, respectively, to their hook release positions, shown in Fig. 2, and are bent inwardly of the side sections to other hook engaging positions shown in Fig. 7. All of the hooks are thus positively maintained in interlocking engagement so that the side sections 42 and 43 are held against removal from the body member Ill. On movement of the lock members to their released positions, the hooks are released for movement out of interlocked engagement to provide for the assembly of the side sections with, or their removal from, the body member III. The complete assembly of the sectional box is thus accomplished without requiring any independent or separate fastening means. Further, and as best appears from a consideration of Figs. 2 and 4, the interior surface of the assembled box is entirely free of any projections except for the slight projection of the hooks within the coror a gang unit (Fig. 7), either of the side sections 42 and 43 is initially removed from the body member H], the side section 43 being removed in Fig. 7. A second body member la, similar in all respects to the body member it, is then assembled in a side by side relation therewith by the interlocking engagement of the hooks l4 and I1 and 26 and 38 on the body member lfla with the hooks l6 and I8 and 21 and 2t on the body member 10. These hooks are maintained in their interlocked engagement by the lock member 80 on the end section l2 of the body member la and the lock member 82 on the end section H of the body member 10. The side section 43 is then assembled with the body member lea in all respects similar to its assembly with the body member [8. Although a double multiple unit is illustrated in Fig. 7, it is to be understood that any number of the box units may be ganged in a like manner.

Fig. 8 shows a modified construction of the side sections 42 and 43 which may be desired in certain kinds of installations. In the modified form the hooks on the side sections, and as illustrated in this figure for the hooks 46a, and 41a for the side section 32a, have their hook portions 48a and we extended at substantially right angles from the side section 42a. The assembly of the section 420, with the body member l8 is similar in all respects to the assembly of the side section 42 with the body member l0 so that a detailed description of such assembly is believed to be unnecessary. When assembled, the hook portions 41a and 48a are positioned parallel to the end section I2 in contrast to the arrangement of the hook portions 48 and 49 normal to the end section I2, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred form thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications can be made therein which are Within the full intended scope of this invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A metal sectional outlet box for electric conduits comprising a substantially U-shape body member having two end sections and a back section, a pair of side. sections independent of said body member, a pair of transversely spaced oppositely arranged inwardly extended hooks on each of said two end sections, with the pair of hooks on each section being projected in reverse directions longitudinally of an end section, a pair of longitudinally spaced oppositely arranged hooks on each of said side sections for interlocking engagement with the hooks on corresponding sides of said end sections, and bendable locking portions formed on said end sections for movement into abutting engagement with the hooks on said side sections to lock said hooks in said interlocking engagement, with said last mentioned hooks being released for movement out of said interlocking engagement on movement of said locking portions out of abutting engagement therewith.

2. A metal sectional outlet box for electric conduits comprising a U-shape metal body member having end sections and a back section, a pair of hooks on each end section arranged at opposite sides of a corresponding end section, with each pair of hooks being extended inwardly of a corresponding end section and projected in opposite directions longitudinally of said corresponding end section, and the hooks on said end sections being arranged so that the hooks on corresponding sides thereof are projected in opposite directions, a pair of detachable metal side sections for said body member, a pair of hooks arranged at opposite ends of each side section for interlocking engagement with the hooks on the corresponding sides of said end sections, and bendable locking members integrally formed on certain of said sections for movement into and out of the planes of said certain sections, said locking members, when out of the planes of said certain sections providing for said interlocking hook engagement, and on movement into the planes of said certain sections being in abutting engagement with certain of said hooks to retain the hooks on said side sections in said interlocking engagement.

WILLIAM F. BRUNIA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 9%,438 Ziegler et al Feb. 8, 1910 1,326,498 Hayden Dec. 30, 1918 1,483,453 Knoderes Feb. 12, 1924 1,557,066 Krantz Oct. 13, 1925 1,604,516 Jacobsen Oct. 20, 1926 

